14. How many adults did not participate in lifelong learning, even if interested in doing so?

Indicator 1120: individuals who wanted to participate in training, but did not

Figure 14 Individuals who wanted to participate in training but did not (%)

Adult learning policies should aim to remove barriers to participation in continuing education and training.

There is a large share of adults who do not participate, even though they are potentially interested in doing so.

The indicator below is defined as the share of adults (aged 25-64) who wanted to participate in training but did not do so.

Figure 14: Individuals who wanted to participate in training but did not (%)

Source: Eurostat, adult education survey.

Key points

In 2011, 9.5% of individuals aged 25-64 across the EU wanted to participate in education or training but did not do so. Apart from a remarkably high share in Ireland (55.1%), the percentage was particularly high in Cyprus (24.8%), followed by Malta (23.6%). The percentage of adults who wanted to participate in lifelong learning but did not do so was the lowest in the Czech Republic (4.8%). It was also below the EU average in Germany (5.6%), Bulgaria (5.9%), Sweden (7.2%), Austria (7.7%), Portugal (8.1%), Lithuania (8.3%), and the Netherlands (9.4%).

In Switzerland (at 12.2.%) and Turkey (at 11.8%) the share of adults who wanted to participate in education and training but did not do so was higher than in the EU, in Norway (at 7.4%) it was lower.

Table 14: Individuals who wanted to participate in training but did not (%)

Information from the 2011 adult education survey is used to approximate the situation in the 2010 baseline year.